Pin-setting mechanism



A. N. OLSEN.

PIN SETTiNG MECHANISM. APPLICATION HL'ED 1 58.28, 1921.

Patented May 2, 1922 4 SHEETS-SHEET a Q T \3 \A 4 \Y' I WW, ///77//// 3 m AJVT 025m.

A. N. OLSEN.

PIN SETTING MECHANISM.

-APPLICATION FILED FEB. 28, 1921.

Patented May 2, 1922.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2- A. N. OLSEN. 7 PIN smme MECHANISM. if APPLICATION FILED ran. 28', 192;. 1,414,787 Patented May 2, 19221..

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3- A. N. OLSEN.

PIN SETTING MECHANISM, APPLICATION FILED FEB. 28, 1921.

1,414,377. 5 I 9mm ay.2,,19?i2.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

UNITED STATE: PATENT;OFFICE.

ALFRED N. OLSEN, OF ROCK- RAPIDS, IOWA, ASSIGNOR TO VICTOR PIN SETTER COMPANY, 01 ROCK RAPIDS, IOWA;

rm-sn'r'rme mncnzani'sm.

To all whom it may concern:-

Be it known that I, ALFRED N. OLSEN, a

' citizen of the United States, residing at Rock accommodate themselves to the pins already Rapids, in the county of Lyon and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pin-Setting Mechanisms, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in devices for automatically setting bowling pins upon their spots on the floor of a bowling alley and has as its general object the .provision of means adapted, in an elevated position, to weave the [HHS when promiscuously placed thereon, and operating autowhen lowered and aga n elevated.

matically or; retracted, to dispose the pins 1n upright position upon the floor of the bowling alley and accurately center the same upon their res ective s ots, thus obviating the tedious an uncerta n setting of the pins by hand.

Another object of the invention is to provide pin setting means so constructed that if one or more of the! pins should remain standing on their spots after other pins have been knocked down, none of the latter pins will require to be placedwithin the pockets or units of the device, as, upon lowering of the device the empty pocke'tsor unitswill standing, and in this connection the invention has as its further object toso construct the units of the devioe that should any pins be left standingand not accurately centered on their. respective spots, lowering of the device, to set and spot the pins-which have been knocked down and deposited in the proper units of the device, will result also in automatic repositioning of the first-men tioned pins so as to. center the same upon their respective spots.

Another object of the inventlon is to so construct the device that it will be substan- 'tial and durable and not liable to have its parts disarranged or damaged when pins are carelessly thrown into the units thereof.

Another object of the invention is to pro- I vide a device for the purpose stated in which the pin-receiving units are received within a frame and in which means are provided for counter-balancing the frame in its up and down movement .so that but little exertion is required to effect lowering of the Specification of Letters Patent."

frame to setthe pins'upon their spots, and after this has been done the'counter-balancmg means will act automatically to elevate the frame until it has been brought clear of the pins.

Patented May 2,1922; Application filed February 28, 1921. semi ice/44mm. I

- Still another object of the invention is to" so construct. and arrange the frame and the unlts contained therein as to provide for de-' poslting of the pins in the units with a maximum degree of convenience and without the necessity of exercising any special care.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure lis a side elevation of the mechanism embodying the invention arranged within a bowling alley, the frame in which the pin-receiving units are arranged being shown lowered to a positionadjacent the floor of the alleyand having a number of;

pins placed therein for the purpose of being spotted upon the said floor;

Figure 2' is a similar view illustrating the frame fully lowered;

Figure 3 is a detail front to rear sectional -view through one of the pin-receiving units,

the bolstermg member being shown in the position which it assumes by gravity-when the unit is elevated and is in position .to rece ve a. pin; a

Flgure 4 1s a similar viewillustrating the unit lowered and the pin bolstering memberv shifted to position to release the pin;

Figure 5 is a similar view illustrating the unit partly elevated; J

Figure 6 is a similar view illustratingthe unit further elevated;

Figure 7 is a perspective view: of the bolstering member looking atvthe forward side thereof;

Figure 8- 's a similar view of the said member looking at therear side thereof;

Figure 9 is a perspective view of a fixed-- abutment member which constitutes a part of the unit.

The mechanism embodying the present inventioncomprisesan assemblage of ten pin receiving and setting units which are of counterpart construction and which are are ranged within a triangular frame 1n d1cated in general by the numeral 1, this frame being arran ed for-vertical movement within the bow ing alley 2"above the floor 3 thereof by any suitable guiding means indi cated by the numeral 4, the frame being counterbalanced by weights connected with the-ends of cables 6 which are led over pulleys 7 arranged above the alley and which cables are connected, as at 8, to the opposite. sides of the frame 1.

The drawings illus- ,trate only one weight and its respective cable and pulley but it will be understood that an assemblage of theseelements is employed at each side of the .alley and connected with each side of the frame 1.

Each unit of the mechanism comprises a box indicated in general by the numeral 9, these boxes being arranged in proper pyramidal order within the frame 1 and each box comprising sides 10, a front wall 11, and

a rear wall 12. The side walls 10 of each box af'e vertically disposed as is also-the frontwal-l 11, but the'rear wall 12 is disposed in a plane inclined upwardly and rearwardly, as clearly shown in Figures 3,

4:, 5 and 6 of the drawings.

.Each unit further comprises an abutment member and a bolstering member which members are mounted respectively within the rear and forward ends of the box 9 and therefore coact respectively with the rear and forward sides of a bowling pin disposed within the unit. The abutment member is indicated in general by the numeral 13 and the same comprises a'body 14: having flat parallel .sides 15 which seat beside the tion as indicated by the, numeral 17, the uppermost portion of the body being inclined forwardly or in an opposite directlon as indicated by the numeral 18. At the juncture of the portions 17 and 18 the body is provided upon its rear side with a horizontal flange 19 designed to rest" upon the upper edge of the rear wall 11 of the box 9 and be secured thereto by: screws or other suitable fastening elements 20. Likewise a bolt 21 may e passed through the lower portion of the body 14 and through the said wall 11 so as to secure the member 13 rigidly in place within the rear end of. the respective box. Due to the downward and inward inclination of the surface portion.

1,7, and the opposite inclination of the portion 18, the butt end of a pin thrown into the unit and striking the abutment-member, will be guided downwardly and inwardly and the pin will be caused toassume an approximately upright position when it temper comes to rest between the abutment member and the bolstering member which latter will now be described.

The bolstering member is most clearly shown in Fi ures 7 and 8 of the drawings and indicate in general by the numeral 22,

, and the. said member comprises a body 23 having laterally downwardly projecting lugs 24:. The body at its rear side and above the upper ends of the lugs is formed with a head 26 having a. transversely concave face 27. At its underside the head is formed with spaced pairs of apertured ears 28 in which are mounted spindles '29 supporting anti-friction rollers 30 which may be of any material suitable for the purpose and which rollers are disposed with their axes at an obtuse angle to each other so that the rollers may engage. the forward side of a pin disposed within the unit at points at, opposite sides of the middle front of the:

Preferably the spindles 29 are propin. vided at their relatively remote ends with heads .31 which engagethe outer faces of the uppermost ears 28, and the relatively adjacent ends of the spindles project beyond the relatively adjacent ears 28 of the 7 two pairsand are formed'with openings 32 throu h which may be threaded a tyin wire 33 w ich prevents displacement o the spindles but which may be readily untied to permit of withdrawal of either spindle for the replacement of the respective roller 30 whenever this becomes necessary. 4 The outer sides of the legs 24: constitute extensions of the lateral edges of the body 23, and these portions of the member are slidably disposed within grooves 34 formed in the 0pposing faces of the side walls 10 of the box 9, the said grooves being inclined to correspond to the inclination of the rear wall 12 of the box and being located immediately rearwardly of the said wall. The head 26 is hollow in its rear side and within the recess thus provided are formed ears 35 supporting spindles 36 upon which are mounted anti-friction rollers 37, these rollers being designed tolride against the rearwardly presented face of the front wall 12 of the unit in the up and down shiftingmovement of the bolstering member. For a purpose to be presently explained the rear face of the rear wall 12 of the unit comprises upperl and lower relatively offset portions 38 and 39 respectively and an intervening shoulder 40,

relation to the plane of the portion 39, and. the shoulder 40 merging with the said surface portions38 and 39 in a manner to proride for free travel of the rollers 37' over.

the said portions 38 and 39 and the shoulder,

portion 40. The body 23 of the bolstering member is provided. at its upper side with a. rearwardly projecting flange 41 designed, in the full lowered and normal position of the the portion 38 being spaced forwardly with 6 of the drawings.

distance lessthan spotting the pins,

40 and by'reason of-this play,

45 has been lowered wardly 5B sumes the positlon liinit the downward movement of the memher to the position shown in Figures" 3 and ,:When. the frame set or spotted, the bolstering member 22 willoccupy the lowered position shown in Fig- 10 ure 3 of the drawingsand when the member is in this position the rollers 37 will rest against the surface 39 of the rear wall 12, and the rollers will be spaced from the adjacent side of the abutment member 13a themaximum diameter of the body of thepin so that when a pin is dropped or thrown into the unit it will strike against the-abutment member and be bolstered between this member and the said 20 member22, the forward side of the pin engaging the curved inner surface of the abutment member 13 and the rear side of the pin engaging the rollers 30, When the mechanism is lowered for the purpose of the lower ends of the legs 24 of the bolstering member will come in contact with the floor of the alley and this member will be bodily shifted in an upward and rearward direction, and as these rollers 0 37 ride upwa-rdly'over the surface 39 and onto the shouldered portion 40, the member will be guided so as to recede from the pin until it has assumed about the position shown in Figure 4 of the drawingsin which position of the parts the pin-will be upright upon the floor of the alley. The grooves 34 are of suiiicient width to permit of play-of the bolstering member forwardly and rearwardly with relation to the rear wall 12,

the said bolstering member'is permitted to move forwardly as well as upwardly when its rollers 37 pass from the surface 39 over the shoulder 40 and onto the surface 38. After the frame to the position shownin Figure 4 and is released, thecounterbalancing weights associated therewith will immediately act to-elevate the frame and as this movement takes place the rollers 37 50. will again ride onto the shoulder 40 as shown in Figure 5 of the drawings andfinally onto the surface 39 as shown in Figure 6,

the bolstering member bodily moving downand rearwardlyruntil it finally: as-

shown in said Figure 6. In the meantime however this member as well as the abutment the pin which is' left standing in an upright position upon itsspot. By

the shoulder, the bolstering member is peri 1 mittedto recede'froni the pin .as' the'pin is released ,and caused to' assume an upright v position upon the floor of the alley, and on of the mechanism is in elevated position to receive the'pins tobe member 13, has cleared providing the 60 shoulder 40 and the relatively offset or displaced surfaces 38 and 39 above and beldw is moved rearwardly as the unit'is clearof the pin, so as to automatically assume a position to bolster the pin next placed within the unit,

is claimed as new is: T 1. In pin setting mechanism, ing unit movable 'and comprising spaced walls, an abutment member carried by one of said walls, the other wall having an inclined surface and a shoulder at the upper portion of the surface, and a bolstering member disposed within the unit and having means riding in a pin-receiv upwardly and downwardly v 70 Having thus described the invention,- what I contact with the last-mentioned wall and adapted, in the lowered position of the bolstering member, to support the same by contact with the inclined surface of the wall and, in the upward movement of the bolsteringmember, to rideoverthe said shoulder and permit the'member to recede from the pin engaged thereby, the said bolstering member having a floor-engaging part to in-- fiuence such movement.

2. In pin setting mechanism, a pin-re-' ceiving unit comprising spaced walls, an upright abutment member upon oneof said walls, the other wall havingan inc-lined surface, the upper'and lower portions of which are relativel offset, and a bolstering member mounte within the unit and having means riding in engagement with the in clined surface of the last-mentioned wall, the bolstering member ,having a floor-engaging part to influence upward movement of the member when the unit is lowered.

-' 3. In pin setting mechanism, a pin-receiving unit movable upwardly and downwardly and comprising a wall having an inclined surface the upper and lower"'portions of which are relatively offset and connected by a shoulder, an abutment opposite the said wall, member mounted within the unit and normally assuming by gravity a lowered "position and having a floor-engaging part to in fiuence movement in an upward direction, the said bolstering member embodying an anti-friction element riding in engagement with the inclined face of the wall,

ing unit movable upwardly and downwardly and embodying a wall having an inclined surface the upper and lower portionsvof which are relatively offset and connected y H located opposite the said wall, a bolstering position-to the wall and adapted. to assume by gravity a lowered position, means limiting the lowering movement of the said bolstering member, and an anti-friction element carriedby the bolstering member and positioned, in thelowred position of the member disposed. and a bolstering.

4. In pin settlng mechanism, a pin-receiv-,

a shoulder,v and abutment member member, to engage against'thelowerportion of the inclined'surface of. the wall and thus support the bolstering member in bolstering position and arranged, in the upward movement of the member, to ride over the shoulder and toward the upper "portion of the inclined wall surface and thus permit the bolstering member to recede from the pin, the bolstering member having a floorengaging part to influence its upward movement. 4

5. In pin setting mechanism, a pin-receiving unit movableupwardly and downwardlybolstering member, an anti-friction element carried by the bolstering member and positioned, in the lowered position 0f the member, to engage against the lower portion of the inclined surface of the wall and thus support the bolstering memberin bolstering position temper and arranged, in the upward movement of the member, to ride over the shoulder and toward the upper portion of the inclined wall surface and thus permit tlie bolstering member to recede from the pin, the bolstering member having a floor-engaging part to influence its upward movement, and

spaced anti-friction elements mounted upon,

the inner side of the bolstering'member for coaction with the body of a pin disposed within the unit.

4 6. In pin setting mechanism, a pin-receiving unit movable upwardly and downwardly and comprising a bolstering member having a1floor-engaging part toinfiuence its upward movement upon downward movement of the unit, spaced pairs of ears upon the bolstering member, a spindlemounted in the ears ofeacli pair, an anti-friction element rotatably mounted upon each spindle between the respective ears, the relativelyremote ends of. the spindle having heads and the relatively adjacent ends being apertured,

and a bonding elementfitted through the apertures in the last-mentioned ends of the spindles and connecting the said spindles.

In testimony whereof I afiix III signature. ALFRED N. ULSE fit. .1 

